Rolling guide apparatus

Abstract

A rolling guide apparatus is provided which is reduced in size and weight, and which includes a track rail of a flexible structure of course having a function of absorbing an impact load and capable of automatically adjusting an error between mounting surfaces of the track rail and a movable block. The apparatus includes a track rail 10 with projected portions 12 projecting to the left and right, a movable block 30 having at least four sets of endlessly circulating roller rows 20 built therein which are in rolling contact with upper and lower surfaces of the left and right projected portions 12 of the track rail 10 . The track rail 10 is characterized in that it has an elastically deformable flexible structure including a thin central plate portion 11 being elastically deformable to the left or right, thin left and right projected portions 12, 12 projecting to the left and right from an upper end portion of the central plate portion 11 and being flexibly deformable in a vertical direction, and fixed plate portions 13, 13 projecting to the left and right from a lower end portion of the central plate portion 11.

1. A rolling guide apparatus comprising:
 a track rail comprising a central plate portion, first and second rolling member contact plates projecting outwardly from said central plate portion, and first and second fixed plates projecting outwardly from said central plate portion, each of said rolling member contact plates having a horizontal portion located at a root side adjacent the central plate portion and an inclined arcuate portion located at a projecting side opposite said root side, each of the horizontal portions having an exposed horizontal upper surface an an exposed horizontal lower surface, each of the inclined arcuate portions curving to a height further from the fixed plates than the horizontal portions; and 
 a movable block having at least four sets of endlessly circulating rolling member rows built therein which are in rolling contact with at least two surfaces of said first and second rolling member contact plates of said track rail, 
 wherein said central plate portion is elastically deformable by forces placed on said rolling member contact plates and said fixed plates. 
 
     
     
       2. The rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said track rail is formed by welding together back sides of bottom plate portions of a pair of rail members each having a channel-shaped cross sectional configuration. 
     
     
       3. The rolling guide apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said track rail is formed into an integral structure by drawing. 
     
     
       4. The rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said track rail comprises a rectilinear rail. 
     
     
       5. The rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said track rail comprises a curvilinear rail curving in a vertical direction. 
     
     
       6. The rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein all said rolling members of said four sets of endlessly circulating rolling member rows comprise balls. 
     
     
       7. The rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein two left and right rows of endlessly circulating rolling members located at an upper side of said rolling member contact plates comprise rollers having their rolling face portions of a circular arc configuration, and said rolling members located at a lower side of said rolling member contact plates comprise balls. 
     
     
       8. A rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein upper and lower rolling guide apparatuses having respective upper and lower track rails are arranged in a vertically opposite relation with respect to each other with their respective track rails being disposed orthogonal to each other, and two movable blocks are coupled with each other in back-to-back contact to form an integral structure so as to be movable in two orthogonal directions. 
     
     
       9. The rolling guide apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said upper and lower track rails are fixedly secured to centers of mounting plates, respectively, with end portions of said mounting plates being fixedly attached to counterpart mounting surfaces.